KARNS CITY 32, MONITEAU 29

Nov. 18, 2006

District 9 Class AA Playoffs - Semifinals at Karns City

KARNS CITY – Matt Endlish’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Josh Callender with 24 seconds to play gave Karns City a 32-29 win over rival Moniteau in the District 9 Class AA semifinals Saturday night in Karns City.

On the play, Endlish arched a pass into the right corner of the end zone, and Callender caught it on the run just staying in bounds before going out on his second stride.

The score capped a 70-yard drive in the final 1:02 for the KSAC champion Gremlins (10-1) that was helped by two Moniteau penalties.

In fact, the last two plus minutes was a disaster for the Warriors (6-5), who seemed to have the game well in hand after they intercepted a Karns City pass and returned it to the Gremlins 11-yard line.

Even a field goal would have given the Warriors a 32-26 lead. But a couple of negative plays and a penalty later, and Moniteau gave the ball back to Karns City a the Gremlin 30-yard line.

The last 10 minutes was full of ups and downs for both teams.

Moniteau, which lost its final five games after starting the year 6-0, entered the final frame with 22-20 lead.

But Karns City went ahead 2:02 into the quarter on a 30-yard pass from Endlish to Justin Switzer.

Moniteau appeared to take control of the game three minutes later when Tyler Armagost hit Cruz Eshenbaugh with a 9-yard scoring pass to give Moniteau the 29-26 lead with 6:13 left to play.

Karns City’s low continued on its next possession when Endlish was picked off and the ball was returned deep into Gremlin territory.

But the Karns City defense, as it has all year, rose to the occasion and got the ball back for Endlish and the offense which drove for the winning score.

Karns City led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter thanks to a 5-yard Callender run early in the first quarter.

But Moniteau scored three times in the second quarter to take a 19-7 halftime lead.

Armagost got the Warriors to within a point 7-6 with a 1-yard run early in the quarter.

Moniteau then took the lead when Armagost found Josh Loos with a 9-yard scoring pass midway through the quarter.

The Warriors then seemed to take control of the game 21 seconds before halftime when Armagost scored on a 9-yard run.

But Karns City got back into the game on a 1-yard run by Endlish with 4:03 left in the third quarter cutting the lead to 19-14.

Moniteau seemed to take the momentum back when Adam Cousins, playing for the first time since the Oct. 13 game against Karns City, booted a 19-yard field goal making it 22-14 with one minute left in the quarter.

Endlish had the answer, though, hitting Stephon Conto with a 78-yard scoring pass 16 seconds later cutting the lead to two points going to the fourth quarter.

Both quarterbacks had big nights.

Endlish had a career night going 13-for-23 for 269 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His previous career high was 114 yards passing and he had thrown just six touchdown passes vs. 11 interceptions all season.

Armagost had a second big game against Karns City going 15-for-30 for 225 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. That gave the sophomore 557 yards passing in two games against Karns City this year after he passed for 332 in a 20-18 Week Seven loss. Armagost added 40 yards rushing and the two scores.

Neither team was able to get the ground game going with Karns City rushing for 89 yards and Moniteau 80.

Markus LaVan led the Gremlins with 10 carries for 43 yards, while Callender had seven for 30 and the one big catch for 11 yards.

Armagost led Moniteau with 15 carries for 40 yards, while Cousins had 14 for 25.

Cameron Turner had four catches for 65 yards for Karns City with Mike McConnell added two for 47 and Conto two for 89 and the score.

Eshenbaugh had five grabs for 69 yards and the touchdown to lead Moniteau’s receivers. Loos added four for 57 and a score, while Adam Pry had four for 92.

Karns City will now face Brookville in the D9 title game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium..

Moniteau 0 19 3 7 – 29

Karns City 7 0 13 12 – 32

KC – Josh Callender 5 run (Matt McConnell kick), 7:40

M – Tyler Armagost 1 run (kick blocked), 8:18

M – Josh Loos 9 pass from Armagost (run failed), 5:36

M – Armagost 9 run (Adam Cousins kick), :21

KC – Matt Endlish 1 run (McConnell kick), 4:03

M – Cousins 19 field goal, 1:00

KC – Stephon Conto 78 pass from Endlish (pass failed), :44

KC – Justin Switzer 30 pass from Endlish (run failed), 9:51

M – Cruz Eshenbaugh 9 pass from Armagost (Cousins kick), 6:25

KC – Callender 11 pass from Endlish (kick failed), :24

First Downs 16 18

Rushes-Yards 36-80 35-89

Passing Yards 225 269

Passing: Comp-Att-Int 15-30-1 13-23-1

Total Yardage 305 358

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1

Penalties-Yards 13-89 6-44

Rushing – Moniteau: Tyler Armagost 15-40, Adam Cousins 14-25, Ricky Best 5-12, Clay Drnek 1-1, Josh Loos 1-2. Karns City: Matt Endlish 9-(-18), Markus LaVan 10-43, Brett Green 6-26, Stephon Conto 1-7, Josh Callender 7-30, Chris Reeves 2-1.

Passing – Moniteau: Tyler Armagost 15-for-30, 225 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception. Karns City: Matt Endlish 13-for-23 passing, 269 yards, three touchdowns, one interception.

Receiving – Moniteau: Cruz Eshenbaugh 5-69, Josh Loos 4-56, Adam Pry 4-92, Adam Cousins 2-8. Karns City: Cameron Turner 4-65, Mike McConnell 2-47, Stephon Conto 2-89, Brett Green 1-4, Justin Switzer 1-30, Matt McConnell 2-23, Josh Callender 1-11.